The 6 Worst Types of Restaurants for Making a Solicitation
Picture this: Your organization's biggest donor prospect has finally agreed to meet about funding your new project. They're busy, they're selective about their philanthropic investments, and they've just said those magic words:
"Let's discuss this over dinner. You pick the place."
Suddenly, you're sweating. This isn't just any dinner reservation. It's potentially a six or seven-figure conversation, and the restaurant you choose could make or break everything.
Will the venue you select demonstrate that you understand the gravity of their potential gift? Or will it accidentally send the message that you're not quite ready for the big leagues?
The pressure is real, and the stakes are high. One wrong move - too loud, too cheap, too distracting - and you could watch your carefully cultivated relationship crumble over the bread basket.
Here are the six worst types of restaurants for making an ask, ranked from bad to absolutely terrible, along with the key lessons every fundraiser should remember when selecting a venue.
The 6 Worst Restaurant Types for Solicitations (Ranked from Bad to Worst)
#6: Experimental or Highly Themed Restaurants
Novelty dishes, gimmicks, or quirky themes can distract from the purpose of the meeting.
Lesson: The venue should never compete with your message for the donor's attention. Choose restaurants that enhance rather than overshadow your mission.
#5: Buffet Restaurants
The casual, serve-yourself format eliminates opportunities for personal service and can make donors feel like just another number rather than valued partners.
Lesson: Personal attention and service create an environment where donors feel valued and special. Avoid venues that treat everyone generically.
#4: Fast-Casual or Counter-Service Establishments
These venues can appear cheap or suggest your organization doesn't value the donor enough to invest in a quality dining experience.
Lesson: Your venue choice communicates how much you value the donor. Cheap venues suggest the relationship isn't worth a meaningful investment.
#3: Extremely Expensive or Ostentatious Venues
Overly lavish restaurants can make donors question your fiscal responsibility and wonder if their donations will be used wisely.
Lesson: Always choose venues that demonstrate good stewardship. Your restaurant choice reflects your organization's values and financial judgment.
#2: Loud or Trendy Hotspots (like Tapas Bars, Gastropubs)
Noise and crowd energy kill focus and make genuine connection difficult.
Lesson: Intimate conversation requires an intimate setting. Prioritize quiet environments where you can speak at normal volume and maintain eye contact.
#1: Sports Bars or Restaurants with TVs
Screens create constant visual distractions that prevent donors from focusing on your mission and can make serious conversations feel inappropriate.
Lesson: Eliminate all distractions that could pull your donor's attention away from you and your cause. Their focus should be entirely on your conversation.
The Bottom Line
The worst restaurant for making an ask is any venue that creates distractions, suggests poor judgment, or makes your donor feel undervalued.
Remember: your restaurant choice is your first impression and sets the tone for the entire conversation. Choose a venue that demonstrates respect for your donor, eliminates distractions, and creates an atmosphere worthy of the transformational gift you're hoping to receive.
Do calls to schedule donor meetings still make you nervous? If so, Petrus can help! Would you like a phone script for making calls for major gifts donor meetings? If so, download Petrus Development's major gifts phone resource HERE.
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